ANALYSIS:

THE EAGLE is a decent movie which looks better on the small screen than the big screen.   The landscapes used for the film are breathtaking while both sides of the conflict (Romans and Britons) come out as human.   THE EAGLE is another movie focusing on the story of the missing Ninth Legion of the Roman Empire that disappeared without a trace in Great Britan around 120 AD.   This movie follows new commander Marcus Aquila who wants to restore his family’s honor because his father was the bearer of the Eagle and that was lost with the Ninth Legion.  A chain of events leads Marcus on a quest to find the Eagle with his slave Esca.

THE EAGLE focuses around honor and the pain that the Roman Empire has inflicted upon the Britons.  Esca feels honor bound to serve Marcus because Marcus helped spare Esca’s life while Marcus feels bringing back the Eagle will restore family honor.   The tribes of Great Britain attack because of the crimes done to them by the Roman soldiers and yet they have become as bad as the soldiers they fight and kill.   THE EAGLE is a journey movie for two people who might not become friends otherwise (and bound by honor).    I like how the plot follows through and develops as it goes along.  THE EAGLE is one of the better films to come out this time of year.  

The DVD has two cuts of the film with the same running time:  PG-13 and the Unrated cut which has the violence not shown in the PG-13 theatrical cut.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The alternate ending makes sense more than the ending in the movie except for the last half of it, but test audiences hated this ending which had to be reshot and recut.   Two deleted scenes include a fun chariot racing scene that doesn't fit in the movie at all.

THE EAGLE: THE MAKING OF A ROMAN EPIC is promotional fluff.

The feature audio commentary with Director Kevin Macdonald provides plenty of details about the production of the film.   The commentary would have been better if the director had someone in the track with him while sometimes he seems a little too quiet on the track.

FINAL ANALYSIS:   I liked THE EAGLE better on DVD than in the theaters.   Decent extras minus the lack of a good making-of fetaurette.

this DVD Review is (c)6-27-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send  all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com